The Relationship Between Psychosocial Status and Hypertensive Condition

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to test the influence of social status and psychological well-being (independent variables) on hypertensive condition (dependent variable), when adjusting for traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease (control variables). The analysis is based on data collected from SEPHAR III, a nationally representative epidemiologic study of the Romanian adult population. Understanding the social roots of health issues is of considerable importance in developing effective strategies and policies. In this context, most studies explain the influence of social and psychological indicators on hypertension by considering the mediating effects of class-based lifestyle practices, i.e., the full range of economic, social, or symbolic resources available to particular social classes. However, the effect of traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease in shaping the relationship between psychosocial status and hypertension has remained mostly unexplored. The influence of socioeconomic status and psychological well-being on hypertensive condition is assimilated by age as a variable with both biological and social foundations. Age appears not only as a risk factor for high blood pressure but also as an emergent component of psychosocial status. Furthermore, people without higher education are more likely to be known hypertensives with uncontrolled blood pressure values. Social and economic vulnerabilities (e.g., age, education) are interrelated with several health conditions, which support the necessity to develop and implement integrated public policies based on interventions coordinated across several domains. Moreover, social and psychological determinants that predispose to certain health risks should be considered in medical practice.